Roller entry guide for rod mill

ABSTRACT

An adjustable guide mechanism for directing high speed heated metal rods and the like through a series of cross section reduction stations. The mechanism comprises in part a roller mounted on a pair of tapered circular roller bearing cones which in turn are adjustable mounted on a shaft passing therethrough. By adjusting said bearing cones relative to said roller and said shaft, it is possible to maintain adequate pressure thereon and avoid the development of damaging oscillations.

United States Patent Howard [54] ROLLER ENTRY GUIDE FOR ROD MILL [72] Inventor: Robert E. Howard, Kansas City, Kans.

[73] Assignee: Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 27,203

[52] US. Cl ..72/250 [51] Int. Cl ..B2lb 39/20 [58] Field of Search .....72/250, 231; 308/207 A [451 May 23, 1972 Primary ExaminerMilton S. Mehr AttorneyMelville, Strasser, Foster & Hoffman [57] ABSTRACT 8 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,330,143 7/1967 Washburn ..72/250 X 1,761,490 6/1930 Penner ..308/2l4 X AWN ' Pat ented May 23, 1972 3,664,074 I lNVENTOR/S ADOBEPT E. ffQI/VARD AIJTORNEYS ROLLER ENTRY GUIDE FOR ROD MILL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the auxiliary equipment used in connection with a continuous rod mill. More specifically, the invention is concerned with the guiding mechanism for delivering the high speed heated rods to the mill; the latter being known in the art as the Morgan Mill.

The development of the mill by Mr. C. H. Morgan, though subsequently improved and modified, represents one of the major advancements in the continuous rolling of rods into coils of wire. Perhaps the single most important achievement was the introduction of the twisted guide permitting the use of horizontal rolls rather than vertical rolls. This is a closed delivering guide wherein the grooves are cut in a spiral, so that with this guide properly mounted after any pass the rod is forced through it and twisted a quarter-tum before entering the next reducing pass. This development opened up the mill to a multifold increase in capacity, as two or more rods could be rolled side-by-side.

However, as indicated previously, the basic mill utilizing this design has been modified as to its capabilities. Such changes, as well as production increases, have introduced new problems to the mill.

Typically, before the initial reduction station, a guiding mechanism is placed to direct the rod through the mill. In the case of ferrous rod, the material is heated to a temperature on the order of about 980-1040C., and depending on size may reach a speed of 1300 meters per minute, as it enters the guiding mechanism. Due to such severe conditions, the mechanism may become worn and loose thereby giving rise to a condition causing the rods to oscillate and/or vibrate. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to uniformly reduce the rod.

The present invention has found a way to avoid this problem by providing a guiding mechanism which can be adjusted, as when problems arise, to maintain sufficient pressure on the rollers bearing against the moving rod.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable guiding mechanism for directing heated metallic rods moving at a high speed into a reducing mill which may comprise one or more reducing stations. More specifically it is concerned with the roller assembly, one-half of which comprises a horizontally disposed roller mounted on a pair of tapered circular roller bearings which in turn are rotatably mounted on a vertically disposed shaft passing through said roller bearings. Due to the high speed and temperature of the moving rod over said roller, the assembly begins to wear around the shaft under the roller bearings, and on the LB. of the roller. By the use of tapered roller bearings and an axially mounted cap or sleeve urging pressure against said bearings, it is possible to adjust the roller assembly so as to maintain a sufficient amount of pressure on the roller and prevent its movement relative to said shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the roller assembly of this invention, which assembly forms part of the rod guiding mechanism of a rod mill.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the assembled roller assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of a rod mill showing the guiding mechanism preceding a rod reducing station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred practice of this invention, a rod mill of the basic Morgan design is equipped with a rod guiding mechanism preceding the initial reduction or pass station. Said mechanism comprises in part a pair of cooperating rollers and assemblies, one set of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The roller and assembly combination comprises a roller 10 having a concave V-configurated rim l2 and a dual tapered bore 14 converging toward and intersecting in a plane 16 equidistant from the sides thereof.

Received in said bore 14 is a shaft 18 composed of a first end portion 20 having a uniform cross section, and a larger end portion 22 having a uniform cross section. At the intersection of said portions, a shoulder 24 is formed, the function of which shall be defined hereinafter.

To rotatably mount said roller 10 on said shaft 18, a pair of tapered roller bearing cones 26, 260, are provided. In operation the outer bearing surfaces 28, 28a ride against the respective tapered surfaces of the bore 14, the roller 10 thus acting as bearing cups. The inner surface 30, 30a slidably engage the shaft 18 along end portion 20. It will be apparent form the assembled structure in FIG. 2 that the larger side of bearing cone 26 abuts against shoulder 24. While greater detail will be given later, it will suffice to say that adjustments are made by axially moving the other of said bearing cones. Thus, one design consideration for the roller bearing cones is that initially in the assembled condition they are axially spaced from one another.

To secure the assembly, i.e., hold the bearing cones firm within the roller, a sleeve 32 slidably engages the end portion 20 so that edge 34 abuts against the outside of bearing cone 26a. Fastener 36, which threadably mates with the bore 38 in shaft 18, is used to hold the sleeve in position about the end portion 20 and to permit adjustment of the position of the bearing cones 26 and 26a with respect to the roller 10.

If it were not for the temperature and impact conditions with which the assembly is subjected, little adjustment would be necessary. However, experience has shown that in operation there are two prime areas where the elements become worn. The first is along the shaft 18 underlying the bearing cones 26, 26a, while the second is the tapered bore of the roller 10. By utilizing bearings of the type described herein, and by providing the axial pressure bearing sleeve 32, it is possible by merely tightening said fastener 36 to restore the pressures between the roller, bearings and shaft to compensate for the wear which developes from repeated and constant use. This adjustment in effect brings the bearing cones 26, 26a closer to one another. In addition, this adjustment can be accomplished without interruption to the operation of the rod mill.

While the specific details are believed unnecessary at this point, the roller assembly is secured to the frame 40 by means, known in the art, which engage in the slot 42 in shaft 18. As stated above, adjustment for wear can be made without removal of or interfering with the last named means. That is, the sleeve 32 is provided with an enlarged opening 44 which overlies the slot 42. Thus, the sleeve can be axially moved within the tolerances provided by the enlarged opening, and not affect the said securing means.

While the preceding describes the preferred structure of this invention, it is contemplated that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention. Accordingly, no limitation is intended to be imposed herein except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable roller assembly for guiding high speed heated rods and the like through a plurality of reducing mills, comprising a shaft and a primary roller having a central bore therein for mounting of the roller on said shaft, said shaft characterized by a first end portion having a uniform cross section, and a second end portion having a uniform cross section less than said first end portion, where said portions are adjacent one another and a shoulder is formed at the intersection thereof, said bore being characterized by a uniform taper from each side and converging at the center thereof, two roller bearing cones adapted to fit within said bore with their outer bearing surfaces lying contiguous with said taper, where one of said cones abuts said shoulder, and a sleeve member overlying said second end portion and exerting pressure in the axial direction of said shaft against the said roller bearing cones.

2. The roller assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said second end portion of said shaft is provided with means for securing the shaft to a frame member.

3. The roller assembly claimed in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is provided with an opening overlying said means so as to permit axial movement of said sleeve without interfering with said securing means.

4. The roller assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary roller is provided with a concave V-configurated rim.

5. In combination with a continuous rod mill having one or more stations for reducing a moving rod passing therethrough, a guide mechanism comprising a pair of adjustably mounted rollers for guiding said moving rod into said reducing station, the axis of each said roller being spaced from the passline of said moving rod, each said roller being provided with a central bore for mounting a shaft, a shaft receivable in said bore and characterized by a first end portion having a uniform cross section, and a second end portion having a uniform cross section less than said first end portion, where said portions are adjacent one another and a shoulder is formed at the intersection thereof, said bore being characterized by a uniform taper from each side and converging at the center thereof, two roller bearing cones adapted to fit within said bore with their outer bearing surfaces lying contiguous with said taper, where one of said cones abuts said shoulder, and a sleeve member overlying said second end portion and exerting pressure in the axial direction against said bearing members.

6. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein said second end portion of said shaft is provided with means for securing the shaft to a frame member.

7. The combination claimed in claim 6 wherein said sleeve of said guide mechanism is provided with an opening overlying said means so as to permit axial movement of said sleeve without interfering with said securing means.

8. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein each said roller of said guide mechanism is provided with a concave V- configured rim. 

1. An adjustable roller assembly for guiding high speed heated rods and the like through a plurality of reducing mills, comprising a shaft and a primary roller having a central bore therein for mounting of the roller on said shaft, said shaft characterized by a first end portion having a uniform cross section, and a second end portion having a uniform cross section less than said first end portion, where said portions are adjacent one another and a shoulder is formed at the intersection thereof, said bore being characterized by a uniform taper from each side and converging at the center thereof, two roller bearing cones adapted to fit within said bore with their outer bearing surfaces lying contiguous with said taper, where one of said cones abuts said shoulder, and a sleeve member overlying said second end portion and exerting pressure in the axial direction of said shaft against the said roller bearing cones.
 2. The roller assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said second end portion of said shaft is provided with means for securing the shaft to a frame member.
 3. The roller assembly claimed in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is provided with an opening overlying said means so as to permit axial movement of said sleeve without interfering with said securing means.
 4. The roller assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary roller is provided with a concave V-configurated rim.
 5. In combination with a continuous rod mill having one or more stations for reducing a moving rod passing therethrough, a guide mechanism comprising a pair of adjustably mounted rollers for guiding said moving rod into said reducing station, the axis of each said roller being spaced from the passline of said moving rod, each said roller being provided with a central bore for mounting a shaft, a shaft receivable in said bore and characterized by a first end portion having a uniform cross section, and a second end portion having a uniform cross section less than said first end portion, where said portions are adjacent one another and a shoulder is formed at the intersection thereof, said bore being characterized by a uniform taper from each side and converging at the center thereof, two roller bearing cones adapted to fit within said bore with their outer bearing surfaces lying contiguous with said taper, where one of said cones abuts said shoulder, and a sleeve member overlying said second end portion and exerting pressure in the axial direction against said bearing members.
 6. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein said second end portion of said shaft is provided with means for securing the shaft to a frame member.
 7. The combination claimed in claim 6 wherein said sleeve of said guide mechanism is provided with an opening overlying said means so as to permit axial movement of said sleeve without interfering with said securing means.
 8. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein each said roller of said guide mechanism is provided with a concave V-configured rim. 